Dorchester County Criminal History Records
Dorchester County criminal history records are available through the Circuit Court in Cambridge and through the Maryland CJIS Central Repository for certified background checks. Located on the Eastern Shore along the Chesapeake Bay, Dorchester County is one of Maryland's more rural jurisdictions. The Circuit Court clerk's office in Cambridge is the local contact for court records, while CJIS handles all certified criminal history reports for the county. This page explains how to find and request criminal history tied to Dorchester County.
Dorchester County Overview
Dorchester County Circuit Court Records
The Dorchester County Circuit Court in Cambridge handles felony criminal cases, civil matters, and other serious proceedings. Criminal court records are public in Maryland. Most cases from 1989 forward are available for free through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal. You can search by name and see charges, case status, and dispositions at no cost. Expunged records do not appear.
For certified or paper copies, the fee is $0.50 per page. Send requests to the clerk's office at 206 High Street, Cambridge, MD 21613. The clerk is Amy J. Craig. Her email is Amy.craig@mdcourts.gov. For faster responses, email first to confirm what records exist before mailing a formal request. The office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
| Address | 206 High Street, Cambridge, MD 21613 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 410-228-0481 |
| Amy.craig@mdcourts.gov | |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Website | courts.state.md.us/clerks/dorchester |
You can also submit records requests through the online portal at courts.state.md.us/clerks/dorchester/recordsrequests.
Below is the Dorchester County Sheriff's website, one of the key law enforcement resources for criminal history and records information in Cambridge and the surrounding Eastern Shore region.
The Dorchester County Sheriff's Office works alongside the state CJIS system to manage local criminal records and law enforcement data.
Criminal History Background Checks in Dorchester County
Certified Dorchester County criminal history background checks go through the Maryland DPSCS CJIS Central Repository. The local Sheriff's Office and courts do not produce criminal history records for the general public. You must use CJIS for a certified state report.
Start by getting fingerprinted on a Form 015 state fingerprint card. In a rural area like Dorchester County, fingerprinting options may be limited. Check with the Dorchester County Detention Center or contact the Sheriff's Office to ask about fingerprinting availability and scheduling. You will need a valid, unexpired photo ID.
After fingerprinting, send your card and fee to CJIS. A state-only check costs $18. A combined state and FBI check starts at $38. Overnight: 6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 102, Baltimore, MD 21215. Mail: CJIS-CR, P.O. Box 32708, Pikesville, Maryland 21282-2708. Allow 10 to 15 business days. Call CJIS at 1-888-795-0011 or see the DPSCS background check page for details.
Dorchester County Sheriff's Office
The Dorchester County Sheriff's Office is located at 829 Fieldcrest Road in Cambridge. Their main phone number is 410-228-4141. The Sheriff handles law enforcement across Dorchester County and maintains records related to local incidents. Incident reports and calls for service records can be requested through the Sheriff's Office, though criminal history record information is not available to the general public there.
The Sheriff's website at docosheriff.com has information about available services and contact details. For crash reports, the statewide Maryland crash report portal may have relevant documents depending on when the incident occurred.
| Address | 829 Fieldcrest Road, Cambridge, MD 21613 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 410-228-4141 |
| Website | docosheriff.com |
Dorchester County Criminal History on the Eastern Shore
Like other Eastern Shore counties, Dorchester County is a smaller rural jurisdiction. The volume of criminal cases filed here each year is lower than in urban counties like Baltimore County or Prince George's County. But the systems and processes for accessing criminal history are the same across all Maryland counties.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers Dorchester County cases just like it does for larger counties. You can search freely without paying anything. For a certified report that covers all Maryland jurisdictions, a CJIS submission is required. That report pulls together arrest and charge data submitted by all Maryland law enforcement agencies, including the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office and Cambridge Police Department.
If the person you are researching has ties to multiple Eastern Shore counties, a single CJIS statewide report is more efficient than searching each county's court system individually. The DPSCS main website at dpscs.maryland.gov has a full overview of criminal history services in Maryland.
Expungement of Dorchester County Criminal Records
Eligible criminal records from Dorchester County cases can be expunged under Maryland law. File the petition with the Circuit Court or District Court where the case was originally heard. The filing fee is $30 in most cases. After a successful expungement order, the record disappears from the Maryland Judiciary Case Search and from CJIS public records.
Cases that were not prosecuted, resulted in acquittal, or were otherwise dismissed are generally eligible. Conviction records for serious offenses are usually not eligible. The People's Law Library has a free online guide. The Maryland courts clean record help page is another free resource.
Important: Fee waivers for expungement petition filing may be available for individuals who cannot afford the $30 fee. Ask the court clerk about eligibility when you file.
Sex Offender Registry for Dorchester County
The Maryland Sex Offender Registry is maintained by DPSCS and covers all counties, including Dorchester. You can search registered individuals for free at dpscs.maryland.gov. The search is free and returns name, address, offense type, and tier level for each registrant. The registry is updated regularly and is separate from the general criminal history system.
Cities in Dorchester County
No cities in Dorchester County meet the population threshold for individual pages on this site.
Communities in Dorchester County include Cambridge, Hurlock, East New Market, Secretary, and Vienna. All are served by the Circuit Court and Sheriff's Office in Cambridge.
Nearby Counties
Dorchester County is part of Maryland's Eastern Shore region and is surrounded by neighboring shore counties.